The Aaron Rodgers Experience hits a new low – and the Jets must move on

This score was 40-0. Buffalo had dominated New York in every sense of the word: offense, defense, special teams, body language, camaraderie. They were probably breathing superior air at that time. Finally, after another three-and-out to start the fourth quarter, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich benched Aaron Rodgers. It should have happened much earlier.

Backup Tyrod Taylor came in and immediately executed an efficient offense. The 15-play drive culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson, placed in a position that screamed: I trust you. Wilson fell to the ground when he caught the ball and stayed there for a few more seconds. Whether it was cathartic, or Wilson was just happy to put up the first points of the day for the Jets, the atmosphere had changed.

For the last thirteen minutes of the game, Rodgers was rightly on the bench and everything felt lighter for the Jets. The 41-year-old ubiquitous quarterback had a day that can only be described as a shitshow. A few low points:

• Two interceptions, one of which perfectly illustrated the loss of the zipper on the arm

• Sacked in the end zone for a safety

• He gave up the clumsy chase that Matt Milano took home

• A late hit penalty (really)

• Undermining too many short to medium range passes that ended up at the feet of his receivers and then openly blaming them for the incompletions

Rodgers’ biggest achievement Sunday was surpassing Tom Brady’s record for most sacked quarterback of all time. Yes, it’s a knock on his current offensive line, the ability to release the ball quickly knowing the tackles are backups, and the fact that he no longer has any agility. If anything, it’s a testament to its longevity.

Yet that glass-half-full view of the plate does nothing for his teammates or Jets fans because they have the worst version of him. Early Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson would request a trade if the Jets retained Rodgers. Rapoport claims Wilson and Rodgers never found “common ground” after their altercation in training camp.

Rodgers being anointed Messiah and then skipping mandatory minicamp to go to Egypt isn’t the best way to develop good chemistry with one of the league’s most promising young wideouts.

Wilson has managed to complete his third 1,000-yard season in three years, but a lot of that was due to his clear role as WR1 before the Jets acquired Davante Adams in Week 7. Before Adams arrived, Wilson was the fourth-most targeted in the league. From week 7 he is tied for 17th. The target stocks continue to fall as the weeks go by. It has nothing to do with Wilson’s skill set, which is sky-high, but rather the Jets turning the franchise over to Rodgers. In addition to bringing over his guys like Adams and Allen Lazard, he hand-picked his buddy, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Despite consistently failing to foul, Robert Saleh fell after a 2-3 start. Hackett stayed and the Jets have won just two games since.

All this time, Rodgers has been complaining about everything from Jets media members his own teammates. Not to mention the hordes of controversies off the field, especially the disbelief in vaccinations. Even if the Jets win a little more, is this the type of leader you want? A 41-year-old washed-up quarterback with a torn Achilles tendon. Wilson deserves better. Sauce Gardner deserves better. All the young players on the Jets deserve better.

The Jets need to move on from Rodgers. The decision will come soon. The interview process for a permanent head coach will begin at the end of week 18. It’s unfathomable that a high-end prospect like Lions OC Ben Johnson would want to be part of the Aaron Rodgers Experience. Or anyone. It will be clear that this will be an important point of discussion.

The Jets culture was rotten before Rodgers and will be rotten after. There’s a reason why players like Sam Darnold have found success elsewhere after being atrocious in New York. Owner Woody Johnson is a disgrace. He reportedly fired Saleh in a conversation that lasted about 30 seconds. Johnson also opted not to trade for star Jerry Jeudy because of his Madden rating, according to an explosive report from The Athletic. Imagine a roster with Jeudy and Wilson as co-WR1s.

But the NFL is the league of hope. That’s why we value every move so much and why some want our rebuilding teams to be particularly bad to gain better draft positions. There is always a chance to turn things around.

After the Jets’ embarrassing 40-14 loss to the Bills, Wilson, a tenacious competitor thirsting for a winning season, expressed his own version of hope.

“It’s frustrating, but it will make those good times along the way much more enjoyable because we’ve been through things like this”

For Wilson, the good times can’t begin until and if the Jets nab Rodgers.

MVP of the week

Sam Darnold, quarterback, Minnesota Vikings. Before the highly anticipated game between Minnesota and Green Bay, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon was asked by ESPN about the challenge of facing Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Nixon’s response? “I don’t really find it a challenge.”

Think again, because Darnold has set Nixon and the Packers defense on fire. Darnold’s line was 377 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. More importantly, the Vikes pulled off a 27-25 win to set up a Week 18 battle against Detroit to decide the no. 1 seed in the NFC.

Sunday was another milestone in Sam Darnold’s story of perseverance, starting with the right system under Kevin O’Connell. Against Green Bay, Darnold once again had ice in his veins. His pocket awareness was on display throughout, especially here touchdown throw against Jordan Addison in the third quarter. Darnold is also a goldfish with the crucial ability of having a short-term memory. After throwing the interception, he went 5-for-5 with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

The 14-2 Vikings led by Darnold is one of the most notable storylines of this season. Darnold was believed to be on a one-year contract, but I’m not sure how the Vikings can let him walk away. It’s safe to say his teammates would like him to stay in Minnesota.

Video of the week

Midway through the second quarter, Eagles QB Kenny Pickett put on a fascinating performance in defying the laws of gravity.

We never got an official ruling because the incompletion/clumsiness/whatever turned into a positive play when Cowboys cornered Andrew Booth for incompletion. Moments later, the same stumbling Pickett ended the ride with this beauty to Devonta Smith:

The score gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead and, to say the least, they never looked back. Saquon Barkley took the reins and continued his historic pursuit of Eric Dickerson’s single-season record. His 167 yards put Barkley over 2,000 this season. He needs 101 yards next week to eclipse Dickerson. The game against the Giants, Barkley’s former team, will be meaningless from a team perspective. With Dallas’ 41-7 win, the Eagles clinched the NFC East and a home playoff game, locking themselves into the No. 2 seed. In what may be a week of rest for many starters, it will be fascinating if Nick Sirianni lets Barkley go for it. Either way, he deserves to stay ensconced in the MVP conversation.

Statistic of the week

Six points. It’s a miracle of holiday fantasy football championship week! Trey McBride scored his first touchdown of the season. Not only that it happened during a productive season, with McBride’s first score coming on 98 receptions, a new NFL record.

All told, McBride had a monstrous statistical night in a 13-9 loss to the Rams. In addition to the touchdown, he collected 12 catches for 123 yards. But McBride’s night ended on a somber note when a potential game-winning, semi-catchable ball in the end zone with 42 seconds left was deflected off his head and into the arms of Rams corner Ahkello Witherspoon. Had Kyler Murray floated the ball with touch instead of firing it into traffic, McBride’s second score of the game (and season!) would have been much more likely.

Elsewhere in the competition

Didn’t the Giants know they were going to lose? Drew Lock tore up the memo and went on to throw for 309 yards and four touchdowns in New York’s 45-33 upset of the Colts. Lock scored a fifth. New York’s performance eliminated the Colts from the playoffs, put Malik Nabers back on the map and maybe — just maybe — saved Brian Daboll’s job. But the chances of New York taking the No. 1 pick in the draft are much smaller; it now belongs to New England, which faces Buffalo in Week 18.

The 8-8 Bengals still have a slim chance of making the playoffs after a 30-24 overtime win over Denver that was both awkward and exciting. The Bengals had a chance to get the win late in the fourth, but poor time management gave Denver enough time to tie the game. In OT, after both teams punted, Bengals kicker Cade York dove a 33-yarder, but Joe Burrow saved it on a Tee Higgins score with 1:10 remaining in OT. Here’s the Week 18 scenario where Cincinnati makes the tournament: PIT loss + DEN loss + MIA loss.

Here’s a ridiculous theory floating around the internet: Will the Chiefs, who have gained home field advantage, try to eliminate the Broncos? Or will they let Denver win to avoid a clash with Cincy in the playoffs?

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end. Bowers is now at 1,105 and still counting. That he has been such a force on the Raiders’ quarterback carousel makes the feat even more impressive.